CALCUTTA, India. Nov 10 : India will decide whether Pakistan gets its wish to become the first team to tour South Africa after the republic's return to world cricket. Springbok manager Ah Bacher said here today, reports AFT.

"Pakistan have asked us if they could tour South Africa for 20 days tn January," Bacher confirmed In this Eastern Indian metropolis, venue for the first one-day International between India and the Springboks.

He said the request will be considered by the United Cricket Board of South Africa (UCBSA). when his team returns home after its current brief tour of India, hosting the South African return to world cricket after 21 years.

"If the board agrees tn principle, the matter will then discussed with India because we had promised India the first tour of South Africa." Bacher said in a statement to AFP.

"We do not break our word and only if there is a mutual a^eement (with India) then any other country can tour South Africa before India does," Bacher added.

There was no Immediate reaction from Indian cricket officials.

Shahid Rafi, secretary of the

Pakistan Cricket Board, said Saturday that Pakistan had asked to phy in South Africa in January, adding that the "ball is in the court" of the UCBSA

Karachi correspondent adds ; It is unlikely that the South African cricket team will visit Pakistan after Its current Indian tour, because of a visit here by the West Indian team, cricket official said Saturday.

Shahid Rafi, secretary of the Board of Control of Cricket tn Pakistan (BCCP) said, "I am not aware of the South African team visiting Pakistan after their Indian tour "

we are very much occupied with the upcoming West Indian tour for three-one-day internationals at Karachi. Lahore and Faiaalbad," Raft seSd.

The West Indians are arriving here November 17 to play their first-one day international November 19 at the National Stadium.

Rafi said that afterwards the Pakistan team would be occupied with a Sri Lankan tour which ends January 12, 1992.

He said Pakistan had requested to tour South Africa in the second fortnight of January before the World Cup, no decision has yet been made on this.

A four-member UCBSA del egation visited Pakistan in October.